Accurate collection of medical wastes and measuring the knowledge levels of healthcare professionals on this issue

Aim: The aim of this research is to reveal the awareness level of healthcare personnel working in ASM's in Antalya province Muratpaşa district about medical wastes and make recommendations. In this way, it is essential to create a separation culture at the source of the waste in health facilities and to ensure minimization of waste and to minimize the risk of injuries / infections. Method: Our research, it was planned as a cross-sectional and descriptive research with questionnaire method, aimed at determining the knowledge level of healthcare workers about "Medical Waste". Findings: Questionnaire forms on "Medical Waste" were applied to a total of 102 healthcare personnel in 26 ASM's in Muratpaşa district. Our research; doctors (n=45), midwives-nurses (n=39), servants etc. (n=18) included healthcare professionals. To the questions asked about the knowledge level of the participants, %95.10 answered that medical waste should be collected separately and %37.25 received training on medical waste. Healt workers, %49.01 of them are knowledgeable about the medical waste regulation, %54.90 have an instruction on waste management in the unit, %62.74 are in charge of the waste unit in the institution, %59.82 wastes are thrown into separate colored bag buckets, %71.57 of them were recycled at the institution, %55.87 of them knew that the color of the bags containing domestic waste was black and %68.62 of them knew that the color of the bag containing medical waste was red. Participants, %63.72 of cutting-piercing tools are collected in separate boxes, the correct answer is %57.83 stated that they have an effective control problem. The total score of correct answers given to all questions in the evaluation was calculated as 150. "Medical waste awareness levels", doctors; mean score of 112.29±38.48, midwives-nurses; 99.87±48.55, servants etc.; It was 77.56±44.03, and there was a significant difference between the first and third groups; (F=4,129, p=0.019). (p<0,05). Results: Employees, do not receive adequate training on medical waste, they experience waste management problems, In health facilities, waste separation process cannot be done completely at the source It has been determined that there is a lack of information about the issues to be taken into consideration while disposing of wastes to waste bins. It has been determined that demographic characteristics (age, profession, education, operation time, etc.) affect their knowledge about medical waste. Key words: Family Health Center, Medical Waste, Medical Waste Management, Medical Waste Awareness.